So, here we are. Three months have passed since I signed up for another #20BooksOfSummer and I’m beginning to wonder where the time went.
It’s been a weird year — how’s that for an understatement — and I haven’t always been in the mood to read. I’ve watched a lot of streaming services (Netflix, Stan, SBS on Demand, iView etc) instead and caught up with a lot of Australian films and TV shows I missed out on when I lived in the UK for 20 years! And I’ve piled on the weight, eating too much chocolate and ice-cream and pasta, while I’ve been doing it!
I did have good intentions to read 20 books from my physical TBR, with the option to switch out ones from my digital TBR. And I almost made it: I read 17! These were as follows (arranged in alphabetical order by author’s surname):
- ‘The Blue Guitar’ by John Banville (literary novel, Ireland)
- ‘Diary of a Somebody’ by Brian Bilston (black comedy, UK)
- ‘Heaven Scent’ by Alan Carter (crime novel, Australia)
- ‘Love’ by Roddy Doyle (literary novel, Ireland)
- ‘Remember Me This Way’ by Sabine Durrant (psychological thriller, UK)
- ‘A Week in the Life of Cassandra Aberline’ by Glenda Guest (literary novel, Australia)
- ‘Below Deck’ by Sophie Hardcastle (psychological thriller, Australia)
- ‘No One’ by John Hughes (literary novel, Australia)
- ‘You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here’ by Frances Macken (literary novel, Ireland)
- ‘Stillicide’ by Cynan Jones (short stories, Wales)
- ‘The Good Son’ by Paul McVeigh (literary novel, Northern Ireland)
- ‘Shell’ by Kristina Olsson (literary novel, Australia)
- ‘The Woman on the Stairs’ by Bernard Schlink (translated fiction, Germany)
- ‘The Empty Family’ by Colm Tóibín (short stories, Ireland)
- ‘Dry Milk’ by Huo Yan (translated fiction, New Zealand/China)
- ‘Elizabeth and Her German Garden’ by Elizabeth von Arnim (classic novel, Australia/Germany)
- ‘The Yield’ by Tara June Winch (literary novel, Australia)
It’s hard to pick a favourite. I really loved A Week in the Life of Cassandra Aberline, and I got a lot of chuckles from Diary of a Somebody and I became truly immersed in the quiet, understated beauty of Shell.
I have a lot of reviews still to write, so keep your eye on the blog as I play catch-up over the next week or two.
So, that’s it for another year. I didn’t quite achieve the magic number of 20 books, but it was fun trying. Thanks again to Cathy for hosting.
Did you take part in #20BooksOfSummer? How did you do? Care to share your favourite read of the summer (or winter)?
Reading Matters 
Thanks for taking part Kim – 17 is a win in my book!
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Thanks for hosting again. I enjoyed having a project to focus on.
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Well done Kim! I only managed 15 this year, although I am part way through 5 more books. If I had another month I’d make it 😊
Looking forward to your review of The Yield.
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Cheers Brona. I did start and abandon quite a lot of books; sometimes I found it hard to find the right book to suit my mood. I keep putting off reviewing The Yield cos I never know where to start, it’s such a great book but it’s complicated to write about 🤷🏻♀️
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I managed 17 this year too, which is my best ever so well done to us both! Only achieved by not picking from my nominated pile often, but all 17 were from the TBR so that counts for me. I really must make room for the Brian Bilston novel.
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Yes, do read the Brian Bilston… it’s a funny read, in all senses of the word.
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I suspect you are not alone in your sentiments. I have eaten too much while not reading enough!
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Well, it’s easy to eat when you stay at home. I’m now on a healthy eating regime — no carbs, no sugar, no booze — and I can now fit back into my trousers 😂
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I had a difficult time with reading at the beginning of lockdown and could only read very light stuff but was in the swing of things by the time I was doing 20 Books of Summer. I did my 20 this year but I haven’t always – and I had a couple of swaps and one I gave up on. I think 17 is good going!
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